The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-02-09
THE HOUSE.
Fsssage of the Bill Inde,nnifying Chinese fol-
! Qutrases at Rock Snrincs

Outrages at Rock Springs.
WASHINGTON, Feb Son motion of Mr..
Stewart, of Texas, Senate bill passed with
amendments for the erection of a public build
ing at Houston, Tex, at an ultimate cost of $751;
OO0
On motion of Mr. FELTON,, of California, q Sen
ate bill was passed granting certain seal rocks to
the city of San Francisco in trust for the United
States.
MIR. James, of New York, from the committee
on coinage, weights and measures, reported a
bill for thelssue of subsidiary silver CON- Placed
on the House calendar.
Mr. Cox, of North Carolina from the commit
tee on civii-servce reform, reported bill fixing
the salaries of the Civllservice Commissioners
of the whole.
In the morning hour Mr.. Hammond, of Geor-
gia on behalf of the committee on expenditures
in the Departmental Justice, called up the bill
relating to the compensation of United States
attorneys, marsnals and commissioners. lit
abolishes the fee system and substitutes the sal!
airy system of compensation.
Mr.. Springer. of Illinois. in advocating the
bill, characterized the present system as the
worst system of paying public officials that could
be devised 1t offered a premium to officials to
| prosecute persons merely for the sake of get
ting compensation and not for the purpose OF
| Mr. Symes, of Colorado, commented upon the
Importance of the bill and declared that it could
| not be properly considered IN less than two or
/! three days. The House should not be called
| upon in the morning hour to set aside the old
fee system, though it might be defective, and
| establish a new and crude system which might
| be twenty times worse.
| Mr. Reed OF Maine, considered the bill to be
| vicious in principle. Grimes against the United
States were of character which did not stir the
| lively indignation OF the community, and it was
necessary that the United States officials should
| be stimulated by similar self-interest to that
| which melted and sustained the criminal. If
| these officers were placed upon salaries the re-
suit would be an increase OF evaslons of the law,
Mr.. Herbert, of Alabama thought that there
was no danger Of officials failing to perform their
duties If they We're placed upon salaries,
| inasmuch as such failure would lead to imme
| date removal.
Mr.. Gibson, of West Virginia, cited instances
Of wrong and hardship which were inflicted by
| reason of frivolous prosecutions being brought
to enable federal officers to secure fees.
Pending action. the morning hour expired
Under the special order the floor accorded
to the committee foreign affairs and the
Il House went into committee of the whole-Mr
Mcmillan, of Tennessee, in the chair--on the
Senate bill to indemnify certain subjects Of the
Chinese empire for losses sustained by the VIC
lence Of d mob at Rock Springs, Wy. T., on Sept
2, 1885.
Mr.. Belmont. of New York dwelt upon The
|
granting indemnity for the losses inflicted, ant
commended the action of the Chinese authori
ties since this occurrence.
Mr. Morrow, of California, inquired whether
it was the purpose of the committee. in case
} this bill was passed. to call up to-day the bill re
stricting Chinese immigration
> Mr. Belmont replied in the negative. TIL
Chinese government did not desire to embarras
the relations between the two nations by a con
tinuance of immigration. and there was y dis
position to modify the treaty SO as to brin
0 about results very much more effective tina
. could be secured by legislation. With this as
? surance. the committee did not intend to brin
Q | up the matter to-day. The respective merits Q
Q the Senate BILL which provides for the ascel
o tainment of the losses incurred. and the Hous
BILL which makes direct appropriation OF $l47
J. 74S, were briefly discussed.
Mr.. Morrow, of California, favored the Senat
y bill. and criticised Congress for not performiE
its duty to the country by the pass age of the bi
restricting Chinese immigration. The Hous
D. bill was substituted for the Senate bill-10l I
> 6S-and. as so amended, the bill was passed
The House then passed the Senate Dill prohi